Braxton Cleman Reflects on the Last Days of Curtis Williams

Were former Husky Curtis Williams still alive, today would mark his thirty-second birthday. Williams died eight years at the age of twenty-four, from complications arising from his paralysis suffered during the 2000 season.

I spoke recently with former UW tailback Braxton Cleman and referenced to him the P-I photo (shown at left) that was taken during Williams’ final trip to Washington in late April 2002. Soon after, Williams returned home to Clovis, California and passed away nine days later.

Here’s Cleman’s reaction to that photograph taken in the Don James Center:

“I remember that day clearly. It was a big day. He had been visiting with a lot of other guys on the team the past couple of days. He was up there watching in the Don James (Center) just watching practice. I was up there, and we were just talking to each other. I know what photo you mean, as I’ve got that photo as my screensaver. To this day I’ve still got that as a screensaver.

“There was nothing really different other than his condition being (hindered). He was doing better even though it was hard on his family. But everybody was upbeat and it was great seeing him there with a smile on his face attending Husky Stadium and watching the team. He could have been doing 101 different things but he went out of his way to hang out with his Dawg family and watch practice and hang out with us. I think that shows what kind of guy he was.

“It was a joy to see him. His injury was very hard on myself and everyone on that team, to see that happen to a teammate, brother, friend, and father. I would actually love to get my hands on a bigger (resolution) version of that picture. But that particular photo captures a lot. We were just sitting there talking about how things were going and we were talking about football.”